The Columbus Blue Jackets named Finland's Jarmo Kekalainen the NHL's first European-born general manager. Other European ground-breakers in the NHL: Kimmo Mantyla, AFP/Getty Images

Swedish defenseman Borje Salming was the first European-born NHL star. His Hall of Fame-caliber play with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970s and 1980s paved the way for other Europeans to come over. Frank Gunn, AP

Slovakian Peter Stastny was among the NHL's first European captains, holding the position with the Quebec Nordiques from 1985-90. The first was Lars-Erik Sjoberg of the Winnipeg Jets in 1979-80. He also had held that position when the team was in the World Hockey Association. Ray Stubblebine, AP

Sweden's Mats Sundin became the first European to go first overall in the draft, taken by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989. Denis Brodeur, NHLI via Getty Images

Slava Fetisov was the first Russian star to join the NHL, coming over to the New Jersey Devils in 1989. He later was part of the Russian Five on the Detroit Red Wings and won Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998. Eileen Blass, USA TODAY Sports

The 1994 New York Rangers were the first team to win a Stanley Cup with Russian players on their roster. The four were Sergei Zubov (21), Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov and Alexander Karpovtsev. Ron Frehm, AP

The Toronto Maple Leafs appointed Mats Sundin as the Original Six team's first European-born captain in 1997. Len Redkoles, Getty Images

Finland's Saku Koivu was named the first European-born captain in the Montreal Canadiens' long history in 1999 and held that position for 10 seasons. Graham Hughes, AP

Finland's Alpo Suhonen was hired in May 2000 to coach the Chicago Blackhawks. He was fired during his first season. Don Heupel, AP

Ivan Hlinka (Czech Republic) was named Pittsburgh Penguins coach in June 2000. He led them to the conference final that first season but was fired four games into his second season. Gene J. Puskar, AP

Dominik Hasek (Czech Republic) was the first European No. 1 goalie to win the Stanley Cup. He beat the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in 2002. He was a two-time MVP and six-time winner of the Vezina Trophy. Paul Sancya, AP

The Ottawa Senators' Daniel Alfredsson (Sweden) was the first European captain to lead his team to the Stanley Cup Final. They lost to the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports